These were words with which we started our week here at the house of the Ecumenical Center. During my first three weeks here in Geneva have been many opportunities to participate in discussions about the current problems affecting the world and this week we had a particular thought. Received in the last week reporting on the actions of the LWF and ACT before the recent disasters that have struck Haiti, as these organizations have been among the people in this hour of great need, as were the first moments after the disaster, which could be done. And now, last weekend, we were surprised at new disaster, this time in Chile, in Latin America.

At a time when we are in danger, we run the risk of undermining our faith met in a little reflection here in the Ecumenical Center about this crisis, these disasters affect us. We are called to reflect that “Every crisis is not only a danger, but also a chance’ and the reflection is given on the meaning of the word crisis. In Chinese, the word CRISIS is composed of two ideograms, one meaning danger and the other opportunity.

CRISIS Interesting, not? Precisely in times of danger, the opportunity exists! Every day is time to rethink our attitudes to growth and improvement of life on our planet. As we young people are engaged in these discussions? How we are committed to the problems and global struggles? In times of crisis or difficulty, we are called to take a chance to look at our actions, to rethink our attitudes, after all, no learning,  no opportunity presents itself to us without engagement, without participation. Let us seize the chance to learn and take part also in the fight of our fellows. May God be with us, especially with the brothers from Chile and Haiti and let us remember that every crisis is not only a danger but also an opportunity.